Bag making machine



May 16, 1967 w BQDOLAY ET AL 3,319,538

BAG MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 5T ph n M-E mduluy William A QB 12 :1 mluy INVENTORS.

y 1967 w. A. BODOLAY ET AL 3,319,538

BAG MAKING MACHINE Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1965 E EEFhETL M E cldclluy unm A-EEJ duluy will INVENTORS.

May 16, 1967 w. A. BODOLAY ET AL 3,319,538

BAG MAKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ELafzhen M EJEIdEI1EL William AQEH: dmluy INVENTORS.

United States Patent 3,319,538 BAG MAKHJG MACHINE William A. Bedolay, 54 Shady Brook Lane, and Stephen M. Bodolay, Daviston St., both of Springfield, Mass. 01108 Filed Feb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,357 10 Claims. (Cl. 938) This invention is concerned with a novel attachment to the machine for making bags from a continuous web as described in the United States Letters Patent No. 2,877,- 609, patented on March 17, 1959. in that particular machine the ultimate bag that is produced has a bag with a single compartment. No facilities were provided in the bag for a header having the printed indicia or instructions as to the contents of the bag.

Attempts have been made for printing on the web material itself. While the results obtained in printing on the material have been satisfactory, certain types of bags such as those containing pre-packaged hardware items, pure-packaged candy, pre-packaged foods, such as fruits and items of a bulky nature, are too heavy when hung on pegs. The film is not strong enough to support the weight by itself without a card or label.

Another procedure has been to attach to the external portion of the bag, a header, usually by staples. Other attempts have been made at heat sealing the header to the bag. On the header has been printed the indicia.

A new concept has been developed with the machine as aforementioned and by the attachment which will be hereinafter described wherein the header is inserted in a separate compartment within the bag, independent from and not in contact with the contents of the bag.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that will, on one machine, form the bag as described in Patent No. 2,877,609, form a second compartment in the bag, insert within the second compartment the header having the printed indicia thereupon, seal the bag so that the machine itself completes the entire operation without the necessity of human hands other than the person who operates the machine.

It is another object of the within invention to provide a bag having separate compartments for the instruction or advertising indicia wherein the indicia cannot be torn from the bag.

It is still an additional object of the within invention to provide a machine that can insert a header or a label made of many different types of materials resilient or stiff, without changing the basic structure or operation of the machine described in Patent No. 2,877,609.

It is still a further object of the Within invention to provide a machine that can manufacture a bag having separate compartments, wherein in one compartment is located the label or header, and in the other compartment is located the material, thus preventing pilferage from the bag by tearing the header or label from the bag.

It is still a further object of the within invention to provide a machine that can insert in the bag, in perfect alignment, a header or display label.

It is yet an additional object of the within invention to provide a bag that is completely covered to the extent that the header or advertising indicia is located within the bag; and there is no chance for anyone to become injured from being cut on the corners of the cardboard or the staples, thus providing a much safer bag.

There is still a further object of the within invention to provide a means on the machine as described in Patent No. 2,877,609 for inserting an identification display instruction card, label or premium coupon within the bag prior to packaging (insertion of the items to be carried in the bag).

3,319,538 Patented May 16,1967

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In order to comprehend the within invention, it is necessary that a complete understanding -be had of Patent No. 2,877,609. In the said patent a continuous web is folded and sealed so that a pouch is formed. Special cuts are made near the top of the pouch. The ingredients, or items that are to be inserted in the bag are then placed therein, and the bag is sealed along a horizontal surface, and the cuts are completed along the vertical edges.

The within invention provides a means that may be attached to the aforesaid machine as described in Patent No. 2,877,609. The attachment is located vertically above the web at a position after the flat web material has been folded to make a double sheet. A folder is one of the elements located vertically above the header label. The folder comes down, causes the header label to be folded so that it has two surfaces back to back connected by a fold at the bottom. The folder, also, as it folds the header label forces the header label, now that it is folded, down into the top portion of the pouch (or the bag that is about to be formed) along the bottom of the folded web. As soon as the folder starts to return towards its original position, a horizontal sealing operation takes place just above the unfolded portion of the header label. A separate compartment in the continuous web is formed enclosing the header label therein. This operation takes place intermittently as the Web stops and moves beneath the folder station.

The rest of the operation of the web continues as described in the invention of Patent No. 2,877,609. Upon completion there is a bag having two compartments, one of which has a header label mounted therein and the other of which contains the material. While the web is on the machine, the header label is located in the bottom and material is above it. When the Web is separated or cut off from the machine, the finished bag is turned and the header label is now at the top with the carrying bag at the bottom within the separate compartment.

For a more detailed description of the within invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a schematic diagram of the machine showing the folding and forming of the web passing through the machine.

FIGURE 2 is a view looking down on the view of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a typical package that has been produced by the said machine.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view with emphasis upon the bottom of the card (header) magazine showing the stack of the unfolded cards including the suction cup removing the lower most card in preparation to advancing this position over the center of the Web.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the web, only, showing the various operations to the web by the machine at the various stations until the finished bag is produced from the web by the machine.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic View showing the forming of the header label as it is fed, folded and inserted into its finished position at the bottom of the folded we-b.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view showing how a card or header is folded and prepared for entry into the web guides (prior to insertion within the folded web).

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the header stack, suction cup and folder.

FIGURE 9 is a view looking down on the view of FIG- URE 5 showing the various stations of operations taking place along the web and its path through the machine.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view of the suction cup assembly as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the tripping and actuating mechanism for controlling the motion of the header.

through the mouth 17 in the suction cup 15.

The concept of Patent No. 2,877,609 to take a web that is on a roll and fold the web in half as it goes through the machine, then seal up sections of the web vertically and horizontally and then cut the web remains the basic idea of this invention.

Reference is made to FIGURE 5 wherein the roll of the continuous web is indicated as the film supply roll 3. The web 3 is mounted on the support shaft 5. The web dancing bar 12 controls the unwinding of the paper reel for web 3. The vertical guide rolls 4 are mounted just forward of the web supply roll 3. They control and assist in the folding of the web 3. I ust forward of the vertical guide rolls 4 is the station in which the card folding frame 9 is located. Between the folder 9 and the rolls 4 is the station which permits the cutting of the hole or punch 24, in the web 3. A mechanical punch (not shown) is employed to make the hole 24.

The folder 9 is a flat piece of metal having a diagonal truncated bottom portion as shown in FIGURE 5. It is also shown clearly in the exploded view of FIGURE 8. Adjacent to the folder 9 is the supply of headers or labels 7. The headers or labels 7 will have printing or cut cuts as the situation requires, namely the advertising media or instruction information for the items that are to be ultimately packaged. There is also located at the center of the header a perforated means so that the folder 9 folds the header easily as will be hereinafter explained. The headers or labels 7 are located within a magazine which has the sides 11 as shown in the view of FIGURE 8. The magazine is square shaped in cross-section and rectangular along its outer surfaces, thus permitting a stack of header cards 7 to be located therein and to be controlled through the opening as can be seen just forward of the suction cup 15.

The suction cup 15 has a suction cup mouth 17. There is a vacuum supply line 16 which enables the suction or drawing of the air causing a vacuum effect to take place The vacuum or drawing of the air effect controls the positioning of the header or label 7. The header guide 19 consists of two fiat members having separated concave surfaces at its upper end portion proximate to the position of the folder 9. This arrangement can be seen in the view of FIGURE 7.' As can be seen in the view of FIGURE 7, part of the header guide 19 is located within the web at 28. The folded film web 2 is surrounding the lower portion of the header guide 19. A mouth 18 of the folded web 2 can be clearly seen in the view of FIGURE 7.

As stated there is, in the header 7, a hole or slot punch 8. This can take various shapes depending upon the requirements. Along the web 2 are the horizontal or header seals 13 of the web 2 as can be seen in the view of FIG- URE 5. There is a slot or cut between the seals in the vertical position.

The bag is pulled along the stations in the machine and the bag is formed with the top at the bottom. If reference is made to FIGURE 5, it can be seen along the further stations 3 that the header 7 has been inserted in what would appear to be the bottom compartment of the bag as the bag is formed after sealing and cutting. Actually when the last out is made and the pouch or the newly formed bag is removed from the web 3, the top of the bag is the portion wherein the header 7 with its hole 8 is located.

In FIGURE 5 the areas a, b, c, and d indicate the various positions of the web as the bag is formed. Area a is the first station where the film web 3 is folded. At station a, a hole punch is made as indicated by the numeral 24. At the next station b which is the second position of the web 3, the insertion of the header card 7 is made, and as soon as the folder 9 withdraws, the seal 13 is made just above the inserted header or label 7. This horizontal seal 13 that is made is not one of the seals that is shown on the original Patent No. 2,877,609. However, the same type of a seal is used for bringing the two parts of the web in contact and connection. The seal herein is the one that makes the bag into separate compartments. When this operation is completed, the web 3 moves to the neXt station c.

At station 0, the header card or label 7 is already located within the bottom portion of the web. The vertical sealers then come into action. These are the same type of sealers that are in Patent No. 2,877,609. Vertical seals 13a are then made and the slots 34 are simultaneously cut. While the sealing and cutting is necessary, it is not claimed to be the new and novel features of this invention. For that reason the details of the operation of sealers and the cutters are not described in detail. Reference may be had to Patent No. 2,877,609 for a further explanation. The controlling mechanism for bringing the sealers into position at station 0 is similar to that of the patent aforementioned. At station d the web is opened by the bag mouth openers 25 which details are described in the aforementioned patent. Contents 27, which in this instance are washers, are then dropped into the pouch opening 18 for delivery of the web 3 th the last station.

While still at station d (as is described in the aforementioned patent) the seals are shown by the numeral 13, 13a and 13b. The horizontal seal 13b which is shown at station e is started at station d. There are two functions at station a, the filling of the contents and the sealing of the top of the bag at 13b. The web 3 then moves to the next station at 3; the sealers that make 13b release at this station and the final cut at the top of the bag takes place.

The finished bag is shown in the view of FIGURE 3. The area in which the contents 27 are filled is indicated by the numeral 6. The contents 27, which are washers, are shown within the bag. The punch hole or opening 8 is located within the upper compartment of the bag wherein the hole punch 24 in the film web 3 is also located, and wherein the slot or punch in the header 7 is located and substantially aligned with the hole punch 24 in the film 3.

In the view of FIGURE 1 is shown the general arrangement of the machine. One is the outline of the machine frame which is substantially the same as that described in the aforementioned patent. A folded endless web is indicated by the numeral 2. It has already been stated that the unfolded web 3 is on a roll which is mounted on the film roll support shaft 5. Film web dancing bar roller 12 can be seen more clearly in the view of FIGURE 1. There are two separate bar rollers 12, one dances in a vertical plane approximately even with the height of the roll. The other is mounted stationary above the first one so that the web is then passed downwardly toward the vertical guide roll 4. It has already been stated that the insertion of the header 7 takes place at station b. At station b is located the folder actuating air cylinder 10, the folded itself 9, and the header magazine 11.

Reference is made to the view of FIGURE 9. The hole punch mechanism is shown by the schematic diagram 20. This is a conventional punching mechanism that is timed to move and cut out the web in a pre-determined shape While the Web is at position a. The details of describing how the punching mechanism is timed are not explained since the timing is done in a conventional manner.

The header lock-in sealer bar 26 is located at station b. This is the mechanism that causes the seal 13 to be made as shown in the View of FIGURE 5 at station b. This is the seal that is not on the original machine as described in the aforementioned patent. This is the seal that makes a separate compartment in the bag and is the seal that separates the header 7 from the area 6 in the bag. While the header 7 is located Within a separate compartment in the bag, the sealer 26 does not seal the header to the bag, and the header has some movement within its own compartment. The header 7 is only positioned by the seals and the fold.

Vertical seals are made by the side sealer in positions 14 and 21. They are indicated schematically in the view of FIGURE 9. They are the same side sealers that are employed in the concept of the original machine described in the aforementioned patent.

In order to make the bag as small as possible, the horizontal seal which starts sealing at station d and completes the operation at station 2 (as shown in FIGURE 9 and indicated by the schematic digram 35) is located slightly beneath the upper edges of the web. This is somewhat different from the sealing operation in the aforementioned patent. In the aforementioned patent, the sealing took place close to the upper edges and not marginally away therefrom as herein. This is a refinement of the original machine in that the bag is made smaller. This refinement is not necessary, however, since the sealing by the sealer 35 could take place at a higher portion along the web edge. As a result of this sealing taking place below the edges of the web, a salvage material or waste material 22 is produced after the last bag has been removed or cut from station 2 as shown in FIG- URES.

The salvage strip 22 is removed from the machine in various ways; but since this invention is not concerned with it, it may be stated that it is waste material.

After the machine has been set up and the web has been placed in position, as shown in FIGURE 5, an opening 24 is punched at station a. While that punching is taking place, a suction cup 15 is placed beneath the bottom stack of header cards or labels 7. A vacuum is created in the line 16 through the mouth 17 sufliciently to draw one header 7 from beneath the bottom magazine 11. The motion is in the direction of the arrows. The cardboard or header 7 is pulled down from beneath the stack of headers 7 located in the magazine 11 and pulled in the direction of the horizontal arrows as shown on FIGURE 8 to a position just below and beneath the folder 9. By this time, the web 3 with the punched opening 24 is now located at station b. Actuating device then forces the folder 9 into contact with the header 7. Since the header 7 has a perforated portion along its middle, as shown by the dotted lines, in the view of FIGURE 5, the folder 9 causes a fold to take place in the header 7 along the dotted line so that each side thereof is wrapped around the folder 9 as shown in the view of FIGURE 7. As the folder 9 continues downwardly under the actuation of 10, the header 7 is caused to be inserted within the mouth 18 and to the bottom of the folded web 2.

The folder 9 is returned to original position awaiting the next cycle. Guides 19 remain as shown in FIGURE 7 extending somewhat into the opening of the mouth 18 of the folded web 2. Once the folder 9 has returned sufficiently to clear seal area, the sealing operating along the horizontal seal 13 at station b takes place. The sealer 26 comes into contact with the Web, seals both sides of the folded web 2 so that the folded header 7 is now located within the newly formed bottom compartment of the folded web 2. The folded web 2 is then ready to move to the next station 0. At station 0, sealer positions 14 and 21 make the seals and the cuts as indicated by the vertical seals 13a and the cuts 34 (a shown in the view of FIGURE 5). The folded web 2 then goes to next position at station d. At station d, the bag mouth openers 25 come into operation and the folded web 2 which has been sealed on all sides except the top as shown in the view of FIGURE 5 is spread apart; the contents, in this instance washers 27, are placed therein. The sealer 34 comes into operation and seals near the top of the bag at 13b as the folded Web rides from station d to station e. At station 3, the final sealing and cutting (performed by the sealer 35) takes place and the bag is 6 finished, completed, packed, and appears as shown in FIGURE 3.

The sealing and cutting are done simultaneously by 35 as the web rides from station d to station 2. While each operation of the web at stations a, b, c, d, and e have been described, the operation at a is going on while the operation as described is also going on at b, c, a', and e at the same time. It can readily be understood that with all of these operations taking place on the web as it rides from position to position intermittently, that time is saved, and that a great deal of packaging can be done in very little time without the use of human hands.

So far the attachment itself has been described. FIG URE 11 shows how the attachment itself that operates the header mechanism is connected to the machine described in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,877,609. In Patent No. 2,877,609 in FIGURE 26 there is shown a drive shaft 31. In the view of FIGURE 11 there is shown a. drive shaft or cam shaft 31a which is the same com ponent as 31 in the patent. Attached to the shaft 31a is a header actuating shaft cam 36. When the shaft 31a rotates, the end of the cam 36 trips the actuating switch 37 as it makes contact along the circular line shown in FIGURE 11. As soon as switch 37 is actuated, the relay located at 38 is energized and closes an electrical circuit to a cam shaft motor 39. The cam shaft motor 39 commences to operate and rotates the shaft 40 which may be referred to as the header driving cam shaft 40. Mounted on shaft 40 is the header folder cylinder actuating cam 41. The cam 41 rotates in the circle of the are shown in the view of FIGURE 11. When it contacts the poppet valve 42, the header folder poppet 43 causes the header valve 44 to open. Air then passes from the supply line 46 (from an air source not shown) through the air line 45 which is connected to the folder actuating air cylinder 10 which, of course, operates the folder 9 as already described.

One might refer to the view of FIGURE 11 as the transmission system which is connected to the machine itself for controlling the attachment described. It is, of course, contemplated that mechanical equivalents may be employed.

A complete cycle of cam shaft 31a obviously controls the timing to the various stations as already described. All of the timing to the various stations are interrelated because of the cam shaft 31a. The cam shaft 40 has a direct timing relation to the shaft 31a as is obvious from the aforementioned explanation and from the view of FIGURE 11.

In consideration of the foregoing, we claim:

1. In a bag making, filling and closing machine wherein a bag is formed from a web material that is folded at its lower portion and sealed along its sides and top portion, an attachment having a folder, means for supplying header labels, means for positioning one of said header labels in the path of said folder, means for causing said folder to force said header label downwardly as it folds said header label into the mouth and the bottom of a partially formed bag prior to the sealing operation and means for horizontally sealing the header label between the web fold, said seal being on the opposite side of the header label from the web fold, whereby said header is movably located between said fold and said horizontal seal.

2. In a bag making, filling and closing machine wherein a bag is formed from a web material that is folded at its lower portion and sealed along its sides and top portion, an attachment having a folder, means for supplying header labels, means for positioning one of said header labels in the path of said folder, means for operating said folder at a position on the machine prior to the vertical sealing operation, means for causing said folder to force said header label downwardly as it folds said header label into the mouth and the bottom of a partially formed bag prior to the sealing operation, and means for horizontally sealing the header label between the web fold, said seal being on the opposite side of the header label from the web fold, whereby said header is movably located between said fold and said horizontal seal.

3. In a bag making, filling and closing machine .wherein a bag is formed from a web material that is folded at its lower portion and sealed along its sides and top portion, an attachment having a device for folding a header label, means for supplying header labels, means for positioning one of said header labels in the path of said folder, said means consisting of a suction cup under the control of a vacuum, said suction cup drawing off one of the header labels and positioning the said header label in the path of the folder, means for causing said folder to force said header label downwardly as it folds said header label into the mouth and the bottom of a partially formed bag prior to the sealing operation, and means for horizontally sealing the header label between the web fold, said seal being on the opposite side of the header label from the web fold, whereby said header is movably located between said fold and said horizontal seal.

4. In a bag making, filling and closing machine wherein a bag is formed from a web material that is folded at its lower portion and sealed along its sides and top portion, an attachment having a device for folding a header label, means for supplying header labels, means for positioning one of said header labels in the path of said folder, said means consisting of a suction cup under the control of a vacuum, said suction cup drawing off one of the header labels and positioning the said header label in the path of the folder, means for operating said folder at a position on the machine prior to the vertical sealing operation, mean-s for causing said folder to force said header label downwardly as it folds said header label into the mouth and the bottom of a partially formed bag prior to the sealing operation, and means for horizontally sealing the header label between the web fold, said seal being on the opposite side of the header label from the web fold, whereby said header is movably located between said fold and said horizontal seal.

5. In a bag making, filling, and closing machine as described in claim 1, said means for causing said folder to force said header labels downwardly consisting of a header actuating switch cam, said cam being mounted on the cam shaft of said machine, the header actuating switch adapted to be tripped by said header actuating switch cam, a header actuating relay under control of said header actuating switch, means including said header actuating relay for controlling the motion of said folder whereby said folder is automatically timed to move downwardly for the insertion of a header label into the web as aforesaid and then to return to its normal position.

6. -In a bag making, filling, and closing machine as described in claim 2, said means for causing said folder to force said header labels downwardly consisting of a header actuating switch cam, said cam being mounted on the cam shaft of said machine, the header actuating switch adapted to be tripped by said header actuating switch cam, a header actuating relay under control of said header actuating switch, means including said header actuating relay for controlling the motion of said folder whereby said folder is automatically timed to move downwardly for the insertion of a header label into the web as aforesaid and then to return to its normal position.

7. In a bag making, filling, and closing machine as described in claim 3, said means for causing said folder to force said header labels downwardly consisting of a header actuating switch cam, said cam being mounted on the cam shaft of said machine, the header actuating switch adapted to be tripped by said header actuating switch cam, a header actuating relay under control of said header actuating switch, means including said header actuating relay for controlling the motion of said folder whereby said folder is automatically timed to move downwardly for the insertion of a header label into the web as aforesaid and the-n to return to its normal position.

3. In a bag making, filling, and closing machine as described in claim 4, said means for causing said folder to force said header labels downwardly consisting of a header actuating switch cam, said cam being mounted on the cam shaft of said machine, the header actuating switch adapted to be tripped by said header actuating switch cam, a header actuating relay under control of said header actuating switch, means including said header actuating relay for controlling the motion of said folder whereby said folder is automatically timed to move downwardly for the insertion of a header label into the web as aforesaid and then to return to its normal position.

9. In a bag making, filling and closing machine wherein a bag is formed from a web material that is folded at its lower portion and sealed along its sides and top portion, an attachment having a folder, said folder being long and flat, -a holder for housing header labels, said holder having an opening at the bottom thereof, a suction cup, a movable arm'attached to said suction cup, means including said movable arm for positioning said suction cup at the bottom of said holder beneath said opening whereby said suction cup draws off one header label from the holder, said means also locating said header label into a position beneath said folder, means for forcing the thin lower edge of said folder against the middle of said header label causing said header label to fold about the flat surfaces of said folder as said folder descends downwardly into the mouth of a partially formed bag, said folded header label being completely pushed by said folder until it is in contact with the inside fold of the web, means for horizontally sealing the folds of the web to each other along a line parallel to the web fold and on the opposite edges of the header label from the web fold, whereby said header is movably located between said web fold and said horizontal seal.

10. The method of inserting a header label in a bag as it is formed from a folded web comprising the steps of positioning a header label of proper size above the mouth of the folded web, inserting said header label within the folded web so that it makes contact with the fold of the web, sealing the side of the web horizontally above the header label along a line parallel to the web fold and on the opposite edge of the header label from the web fold, sealing the vertical edges of the web at points perpendicular to the horizontal seal whereby said header is movably located between said web fold and said horizontal seal, and within the confines of said vertical seals.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BAG MAKING, FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE WHEREIN A BAG IS FORMED FROM A WEB MATERIAL THAT IS FOLDED AT ITS LOWER PORTION AND SEALED ALONG ITS SIDES AND TOP PORTION, AN ATTACHMENT HAVING A FOLDER, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING HEADER LABELS, MEANS FOR POSITIONING ONE OF SAID HEADER LABELS IN THE PATH OF SAID FOLDER, MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID FOLDER TO FORCE SAID HEADER LABEL DOWNWARDLY AS IT FOLDS SAID HEADER LABEL INTO THE MOUTH AND THE BOTTOM OF A PARTIALLY FORMED BAG PRIOR TO THE SEALING OPERATION AND MEANS FOR HORIZONTALLY SEALING THE HEADER LABEL BETWEEN THE WEB FOLD, SAID SEAL BEING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE HEADER LABEL FROM THE WEB FOLD, WHEREBY SAID HEADER IS MOVABLY LOCATED BETWEEN SAID FOLD AND SAID HORIZONTAL SEAL. 